Earlier this week Ear Candy delivered news of a new biography about the final days of Layne Staley. The author of the book Tanya Vece emailed EC yesterday to clarify a few things that I got wrong in the original blog post (which has since been amended).

While I had Tanya's attention, I asked her if she would agree to a brief email interview about the book. She was nice enough to oblige my request and there are some interesting details about the book in the interview, including the fact that she has faced some resistance from Layne's family while writing the book and that half of the proceeds from the book will go to LA Free Clinic and The Layne Staley Fund. Below is the full transcript with minimal edits.

What is your background, and what is your connection to Layne? Did you know Layne personally or are you just connected to him, like most fans, through his music?

My background. I am a former celebrity publicist turned writer. I use to write for Biology publications, did some work as a comedy writer, and then went to being the entertainment contributor for The Steamboat Local in Colorado back in 2002.My own ezine, The Horse Chronicles, started taking off at his point so I quit Steamboat and went full force with the my own publication. I currently work in Las Vegas for a casino doing events, while finishing my book and editing my online magazine.

My connection to Layne. The relationship is hard to really put a title to or define, but there will be things in the book that will surprise a lot of people about Layne and will go back to the staircase where we first met. Let me clarify this right now - it was not on a romantic level. I read somewhere that I was linked to him as his last girlfriend. Not true.

Tell me a little bit about "Itch, Love Stories about Heroin." I know it will feature Layne Staley, but the title leads one to think it is a book about more than the late AIC singer. Does it feature other tragic heroin-related deaths or is it specifically about Layne?

The book is about Layne, and I talk just a little about others such as Mitch Hedberg, Shannon Hoon, and Hillel Slovak who have fallen under Heroin's spell. I look at it from the person who is watching the Heroin user go deeper into addiction's point of view. The story really will be more about how the drug not only affects the abuser, but the people around them- both before and after the addiction. I think my book will provoke the question of how does someone, whose voice sells millions of albums and is known throughout the world, couldn't be heard by those who were suppose to be closest to him.

What are a few of the more interesting things you have discovered about Layne in while researching the book that the average AIC fan might not know?

I believe there was this misconception that Layne just sat in his condo and did Heroin all day. To an extent that is true, but there was more too it. When people read my book, I think they will find out just how interesting, intelligent and sensitive Layne really was. I also hope the readers will conclude that Layne wasn't this person who just wanted to sit in the condo all day and waste away. This wasn't who he was in the end. He was just viewed that way because there was so little really known about him at the time of his death by the general public. It is unfortunate most believe he choose to be alone. I don't think Layne believed he was given a choice.

Layne Staley is a rather tragic figure, what were the bright spots in his life during his final days, if there were any?

He read a lot, and I would like to hope the closeness he had with the people that just let him walk his neighborhood like a neighbor and not Layne Staley or "that junkie" helped ease the battle he dealt with daily. I think people forgot any type of drug addiction is not a life style choice.

What, if any, obstacles have you encountered while working on the book?

We put a press release out about the book to see if there was interest, if I should continue my pursuit. A lot of people think because I know Adriana Rubio that she is involved with my book. She is not. She is a good friend but her work, her interviews with Layne, her visits to Seattle- none of this has anything to do with my book. I read various blog posts since the press release went out. Some are negative, some are positive. The bloggers will write things about me, or my family, or my magazine that they looked up on Google and some of the stuff is out right false, yet nobody ever bothers to contact me directly before publishing it. That, as a publicist, I am use to but still is a challenge to ignore.

The positive feedback is amazing. There is a lot of it and I am glad after all the years people are still drawn to and curious about Layne. I also have read that I am trying to exploit Layne to make a profit off my book. Anyone who knows me can tell you that is bullsh*t. More than fifty percent of any profit will go to The LA Free Clinic and The Layne Staley Fund- even though I have a difference of opinion with Nancy (Layne's mom) her speaking on drug prevention.

I will say I think Jerry Cantrell is doing a great service for Layne's fund with his recent Ebay auction. Anything that can be done to prevent another drug related death is worth doing so more power to Jerry, Nancy and the fund.

Finally, when is "Itch, Love Stories about Heroin" expected to be released?

It should be out in August of 08. I will have updates on my MySpace page as the date draws near.

Lastly, I would like to add that the people of Seattle are awesome. I don't think there is a culture of people like them found anywhere in the US. Layne knew that too and choose to stay there amongst his home. The way the city embraces music, culture and tries to take care of their own is so admirable!